'The Waste Land' by T.S Eliot

Hello friends, here I am writing a blog on 'The Waste Land' by T.S. Eliot.

∆ About the Poet :

T.S. Eliot -Thomas Stearns Eliot (September 26, 1888–January 4, 1965) was an American-born poet, essayist, publisher, playwright, and critic. One of the most eminent modernists, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948 “for his outstanding, pioneer contributions to present-day poetry.” 

∆ Notable Works: 

'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' (1915)

'The Waste Land' (1922)

'The Hollow Men' (1925)

'Ash Wednesday' (1930)

'Four Quartets' (1943)

'Murder in the Cathedral' (1935)

 'The Cocktail Party' (1949)

∆ About the Poem:

The poem is, a mixture of many styles like narrative, dramatic, lyric & allusive. Eliot gives his impressions about the modern people through a protagonist of the poem named Tiresias. He is a spectator of all the events occurring in the poem and a kind of all knowing universal person who belongs to the past as well as the present. 

T. S. Eliot has divided The Waste Land into five sections under the following titles: 

1)The Burial of the Dead, 

2) A Game of Chess,

3) The fire Sermon,

4) Death by water,

5) What the Thunder Said

∆ The Burial of the Dead :

The first section, The Burial of the Dead, reveals the degeneration and rootlessness of the modern man and his civilization. The modern man has lost faith in moral spiritual values. His rebirth is possible only through the revival of spiritual and moral values. 

∆ A Game of Chess :

In the second section, A Game of Chess, the poet indicates the failure of sex-relationship in the modern world. This perversion of sex has made modern life utterly unproductive and desolate.

∆ The Fire Sermon :

The third section, The Fire Sermon, shows that lust and rape are responsible for the decay of modern society. And this kind of degeneration prevails in all classes of modern society. The poet prays to God to save the modern civilization from lust and spiritual degeneration. 

∆ Death by Water :

In the fourth section, Death by Water, the poet has suggested the significance of water as a means of purification and rebirth. He has also made two associations there. The first one is from Shakespeare’s The Tempest while the other one is from the ancient Egyptian myth of the god of fertility.

∆ What the Thunder Said :

The fifth section, entitled What the Thunder Said, suggests that there is a need of effort for the realization of the spiritual goal. The poet gives his own personal impression here. He says that it is impossible to reform the whole world and wonders where the change should begin from. Then he says that he must start with himself. 

1) What are your views on the following image after reading 'The Waste Land'? Do you think that Eliot is regressive as compared to Nietzche's views? or Has Eliot achieved universality of thought by recalling mytho-historical answer to the contemporary malaise?

Eliot believes in Regressive, backward looking as it tries to find answers of contemporary malaise in Upanishad, Buddhism and Christianity.While, on the other side Nietzche believes in progressive and forward looking, in giving solutions to the problem of contemporary crises in faith and self.

In comparison to Neitzche's thought, Eliot is regressive but it doesn't mean that he only raises questions on his contemporary society, he also tries to give a way of solution rather than the answers. Cycle of time is always moving and when History starts repeating one must have to look back and try to learn that. It is certain and right that new questions's answer we couldn't find in Upanishad, Buddhism and christianity.

2)Prior to the speech, Gustaf Hellström of the Swedish Academy made these remarks:

What are your views regarding these comments? Is it true that giving free vent to the repressed 'primitive instinct' lead us to happy and satisfied life? or do you agree with Eliot's view that 'salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition'?

Yes, it is truth that giving free vent to the repressed primitive instinct' can lead us to happy and satisfied life, but individually, things and happiness which is satisfying us can harm others and which give pleasure to others can harm us. But as per Eliot views if all follow such culture, tradition and belief in such lifestyle and moralities, a network of understanding can be created human live peacefully.

3) Write about allusions to the Indian thoughts in 'The Waste Land'.

The Waste Land is an Modern Epic poem revolves around the major idea of Spiritual Degradation and Sexual Perversion. The plot of the poem is allusive and elliptical but at the same time flooded with richness of different references. Where Eliot makes the use of different images, symbols and references from Christianity, Biblical significance, Use of Indian philosophy from Buddhism to Upanishads. Use of Greek Mythology to Modern Metaphors helps to establish poem as an Universal peace of writing.

The concept of Fire Sermon is taken from Adittapariyaya Sutta, a sacred book of Buddhism. In which Buddha preaches a sermon called The Fire Sermon. Which taught human beings how to liberate yourself from all these worldly materialistic wants. To liberate self one should avoid all worldly desires and passions. 

"Datta, Dayadhvam and Damyata,

Shantih, Shantih, Shantih."

The above mentioned line suggests The Prajapati preaching to his three offspring, Devtas, Danav and Manav. And he gave the shlok of three 'Da' which became Datta for Devta, Dayadhvam for Danav and Damyata for Man. And the meaning of these three Da are respectively Be Giver, Self-sacrifice and Self-control. So, This is the three word formula of Da which is taken from Upanishad, and here Eliot uses it as a solution to heightened the spiritual life of Modern man.

So, These are some of the Indian references from Buddhism and From Upanishad which are used by Eliot to make the juxtaposition between past and present. 

4) Is it possible to read 'The Waste Land' as a Pandemic Poem?

T.S Eliot’s modernist masterpiece The Wasteland was written in the aftermath of a devastating world war. The very fabric of it seems traumatised, being as it is ‘a heap of broken images’, or a series of disconnected, disembodied voices. In the fragmentary feel of the poem, we experience the fragmentary state of the traumatised mind, where snatches of thoughts refuse to make sense together. Yet this is more than just a reference to literal shell-shock - we are being painted a picture of a traumatised society. 

History may not have been repeating itself, but it sure was rhyming. In 1918 humanity was just staggering out of the horrors of a world war when she was hit with the Spanish Flu. By 1920, 500 million people had been infected and 50 million died. More U.S. soldiers perished from the flu than were killed in the war.

The poem, like the society it reflected, was “a heap of broken images.” Visionary fragments in Italian, Latin, German and French tumbled like a broken kaleidoscope with American slang, Cockney voices and English poets. Allusions to Greek myth, Wagner, Dante, pop songs and yesterday’s newspaper clippings were all jumbled together in a bewildering melange of misery.

Eliot meant The Waste Land to be mystifying. He was holding a mirror to a decadent and lost generation. In his opinion, Western civilization was already worm-eaten with materialistic hedonism, atheism and a weary boredom founded on the yawning pit of nihilism. The poem simply showed the vapid, consumptive face of the European society as it really was.

Eliot meant The Waste Land to be mystifying. He was holding a mirror to a decadent and lost generation. In his opinion, Western civilization was already worm-eaten with materialistic hedonism, atheism and a weary boredom founded on the yawning pit of nihilism. The poem simply showed the vapid, consumptive face of the European society as it really was.

Thank you...

• Word Count : 1307

• Images : 5

'For Whom the Bell Tolls' by Ernest Hemingway

Hello friends, here I am writing a blog on Robert Jordan : A typical Hemingway Hero in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'.

∆ About the Author :

Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist and short story writer whose works, drawn from his wide range of experiences in World War I, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II.

∆ 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' : 

'For Whom the Bell Tolls' is a novel by Ernest Hemingway published in 1940. It tells the story of Robert Jordan(protagonist), a young American volunteer attached to a Republican guerrilla unit during the Spanish Civil War. He is assigned to blow up a bridge during an attack on the city of Segovia.

∆ Robert Jordan : a typical Hemingway hero :

Barnes, Nick Adam, Frederic Henry, Robert Jordan etc. are all Hemingway’s typical heroes who remain continuously under great stress because they are living in absolutely unsatisfactory conditions. Hemingway’s hero is always in some war or war like conditions but the notable point is that he enters war without any social, political or ideological obligation. That is why he is basically a disinterested spectator of war instead of a vehement participant. 

Hemingway’s hero leads a private life as an isolated individual because during war he very closely observes the nothingness of life, cruelty of man against man, temporality, emptiness and meaninglessness in human relationship. However, we should not assume that he is a misanthrope but he has a great ability to recognize another member of his breed and establish an immediate understanding with him.

In For Whom the Bell Tolls, we see that Robert Jordan plays a role of such a character who fights for an ideal in a foreign land. He has a firm belief in the Republican cause because he loves Spain. He is of the view that if there establishes a government of fascists in Spain then the future of this country will be in danger and the country might be spoiled.

As the action of the novel proceeds, Jordan’s task gets more and more complicated. Pablo is absolutely against Jordan’s plan. Hemingway’s heroes are always brave in their acts. Jordan is brave enough that he even does not feel fear in his great risky task of blowing up the bridge. The reason being, Hemingway’s heroes always like to face risks like Santiago in 'The Old man and the Sea', Jake Barnes in 'The Sun Also Rises', Frederic Henry in 'A Farewell to Arms' and Jordan in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls'.

Jordan is such a character who does not give any importance to what happens to himself. He accepts the risky task of blowing up the bridge with an open heart and never shows any sign of cowardice. Though General Golz warns him about the difficulty of the assignment yet he gives a promise to complete it within the limit of time. In spit of creating obstacles by Pablo, he balances Pablo’s hostility by Pilar’s support. 

There is no doubt in saying that he becomes a new man after the arrival of Maria in his love and he starts living only for Maria’s sake. His love for Maria and his risky mission of blowing up the bridge becomes one because fascists have now become his personal revenge for him as they rape his sweetheart.

Hemingway’ writings because his heroes often fail in their struggle and get nothing in the end. Santiago in 'The Old man and the Sea', Romero in 'The Sun also Rises' and Jordan in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' can be best quoted in this regard.

∆ Conclusion :

Hemingway’s heroes have their own brand of uniqueness in their characterization. They are not less than Shakespeare heroes in their unique traits of heroism. That’s why, most of the critics dub Hemingway as a successful writer of tragic heroes. The element of pessimism is very much evident in it. He creates his own fiction style in his writing.

Thank you...

• Word Count : 639

• Images : 7

W.B.Yeats Poems

18 December, 2022

Hello friends, here I am writing a blog on two most famous poems of W. B. Yeats, 'The Wild Swans at Coole' and 'No Second Troy'.

∆ About the Poet William Butler Yeats :

William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet dramatist and prose writer. He was written symbolic poems and made use of melody as a singer. His poems deals with universal brotherhood, natural beauty, sentimental simplicity, suffering, sorrows and heroism, among other things.

            'The Wild Swans at Coole' 

∆ Poem :

The trees are in their autumn beauty,

The woodland paths are dry,

Under the October twilight the water

Mirrors a still sky;

Upon the brimming water among the stones

Are nine-and-fifty swans.

The nineteenth autumn has come upon me

Since I first made my count;

I saw, before I had well finished,

All suddenly mount

And scatter wheeling in great broken rings

Upon their clamorous wings.

I have looked upon those brilliant creatures,

And now my heart is sore.

All's changed since I, hearing at twilight,

The first time on this shore,

The bell-beat of their wings above my head,

Trod with a lighter tread.

Unwearied still, lover by lover,

They paddle in the cold

Companionable streams or climb the air;

Their hearts have not grown old;

Passion or conquest, wander where they will,

Attend upon them still.

But now they drift on the still water,

Mysterious, beautiful;

Among what rushes will they build,

By what lake's edge or pool

Delight men's eyes when I awake some day

To find they have flown away?

∆ Analysis of the Poem :

This is the most famous poem of W.B. Yeats, a great Irish post. ‘The Wild Swans at Coole’ was first published in 1917. The poem speaks about the infinite beauty of nature. It also reflects how the speaker’s life has transformed since he was a young man and enjoyed these bounties of nature with a lighter tread. It also expresses the changing nature of time and its impacts on mankind.

This poem is an expression of wonder. The poem begins with the description of the beautiful Coole Park in the autumn. The speaker presents a pictographic image of the place such as; the dry woodland paths, still sky, and trees. Only the brimming water brings this calm scene to life. While reaching the shore of the lake, the speaker sees 59 swans swimming peacefully upon the reflective water. This enchanting sight drags him into the past, making him remember the time when nineteen years ago, he visited the same place and observed the swans when suddenly they flew and scattered in the sky. He feels sorry for their preset state because he realizes that things have changed and so does the vibrant flight of the swans.

However, the unity and beauty of these creatures seem permanent to him. He thinks that even when they take a flight to another place, they provide comfort to another observer. So, very few things in the transient world are eternal.

                  'No Second Troy'

∆ Poem :

Why should I blame her that she filled my days

With misery, or that she would of late

Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,

Or hurled the little streets upon the great,

Had they but courage equal to desire?

What could have made her peaceful with a mind

That nobleness made simple as a fire,

With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind

That is not natural in an age like this,

Being high and solitary and most stern?

Why, what could she have done, being what she is?

Was there another Troy for her to burn?

∆ Analysis of the poem :

'No Second Troy' is a poem by W.B Yeats published in the volume called The Green Helmet and Other Poems. It is published in 1908. 

Yeats was not so fond of this kind of violent activity but he admired Maud Gonne and loved her. However, Maud Gonne loved someone else (MacBride) and Yeats refers to this heartbreak in his many poems. He often uses her name in his poems to show resentment or pain.

The poem 'No second Troy' is about the love relationship between the poet and Maud Ginne, a very beautiful Irish woman. W.B. Yeats wrote this poem after Gonne had rejected his proposal on numerous occasions.

In this poem William Butler asks a rhetorical question, asking why he should blame her for making his life full of sorrows. He mentions that Maud Gonne was diverting people toward violence against Britain. Maud Gonne is accused of incitiing class warfare by William Butler.

Maud Gonne has also been praised by William Butler for her beautiful,courageous,nobel and peaceful nature.

William Butler was a non-violence supporter and wanted to make Ireland and independent country without any violence but Maud Gonne was in favor of violence.

As a result, William compared Maud Gonne to Helen of Troy and his homeland to Troy and he feared that his homeland would be destroyed. so he asks, 'was there, another Troy for her to burn?' and does not want any violence against Britain.

Thank you.

• Word Count : 814

• Images : 3

'Modern Times' & 'The Great Dictator'

14 December, 2022

Hello friends, here I am writing this blog on review of Charlie Chaplin's two famous movies 'Modern Time' and 'The Great Dictator'.

∆ Charlie Chaplin :

Charlie Chaplin is an English actor who, in the early 1900s,rose to fame and popularity in the silent film industry. He became most recognizable through his iconic Tramp character, a social outcast with a kind heart. In 'Modern Times', the Tramp finds himself living amidst poor financial conditions heightened by massive unemployment.

∆ 'Modern Times'

'Modern Times' is one of the most famous films of Charlie Chaplin. The film highlights the dehumanising impact of technology but he plays the story mostly for laughs.

When watching the movie,many Americans were poor and unemployed, and that is shown clearly throughout the movie. 'Modern Times' does not shy away from showing the horrors of American life at the time. Despite its comedic nature, the movie has a tragic core. Our main character- Charlie Chaplin, works at a factory. 

The movie gives its audience insight into the era’s worries and thoughts regarding employment and capitalism. Those ideas can still apply today, and the message of 'Modern Times' remains relevant. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has also hit the American economy severely. With businesses shutting down and millions of people losing their jobs, the unemployment rate rocketed. People struggled to make ends meet, whereas the high, mighty corporations prospered, which is also true for the Great Depression. Whereas people in the Great Depression wanted jobs and were unable to get them businesses today are struggling to find workers. While COVID-19 might be a primary factor in this, the issue is complex.

'Modern Times' speaks on that complexity.

One idea frequently discussed today is the exploitation of labor. Workers are unhappy with how they are treated by management, and they will not force themselves to endure that. 

The opening clip of the movie shows sheep running in a field, implying that workers are sheep. Chaplin shows how employment and capitalism value practicality over individuality of the workers, stripping employees of any personality or autonomy. Corporations and companies own the workers, and multiple shots suggest that work eats its workers, using and abusing them until they’re exhausted or driven mad.

Chaplin saw the assembly line as abusive, and the character he plays works in a factory. It makes me wonder what Chaplin would think of conditions today. Would he believe that they’re better or worse? 

These messages tend to be very dark and disheartening, but that is not how Charlie Chaplin ended the movie. Through the use of music to set the mood, the Tramp character decides that no matter how bad his life is, he can still be happy because of the love he has for the people around him.

∆ 'The Great Dictator'

The Great Dictator is a 1940 comedy film starring, written and directed by Charlie Chaplin. A Jewish barber loses his memory after a plane crash. When he finally tries to make sense of his surroundings, he finds himself subjected to a dictator’s tyranny. 

The Tramp character had been a staple of Chaplin’s comedy routine for decades, but here he did not revisit him for the first time ever. Though many would argue that The Barber is The Tramp as they look similar.

This is a political satire that is a comedy at its core, but also a genuinely moving message drama in that now iconic ending speech. Although some would find that ending objectionable as being overly serious,but that ending is the true heart of the whole picture. It was crucial for Chaplin to include that speech having in mind that this was the period when the US was still in a fine relation with Nazi Germany, so people needed to be woken up from their dangerous slumber and realize the reality that is the worst political party in human history. 

Some famous lines from the speech given by Charlie Chaplin in 'The Great Dictator.'

"Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don't hate! Only the unloved hate, the unloved and the unnatural.The power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy, let us use that power, let us all unite! Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give youth a future, and old age a security."

This speech is beautifully written and simple enough, but still contains so many incredible lines that promote peace and love in the world. Chaplin skillfully mixes drama and comedy here, but overall this is a pure comedy as there are so many comedic situations interspersed throughout.

Another highlight has to be the barbershop sequence. This scene was absolutely remarkable in mixing Wagner’s music with the haircutting action on screen brilliantly. Another standout scene was the first meeting of Hannah and The Barber. She is a fantastic character, so courageous and so admirable in her human qualities. Chaplin’s acting is of course incredible and this is in my opinion his career-best work. 

To sum up, the acting is uniformly amazing, but also the dialogue is fabulous and the sound is fantastic. The cinematography is also superb as the film’s more cinematic moments such as that ending were impeccably crafted.

Thank you...

• Word Count : 933

• Images : 3

• Gif : 3